Foldable furniture.



H. D. BARTLETT.

FOLDABLE FURNHURE.

I w APPLlCATlON FILED MR. I8. 1915. 1,295,839. Patented Mar. 4,1919.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET I-I. D. BARTLETT. FOLDABLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8.. I9I6. 'l

'Patented Mar. 4,1919,

l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 791/5 f5/.16

'7 9 1412?; 5?/ [[92 /2 l/.QJ/i i YJ UNi HARRY D. BARTLETT, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDABLE FURNITURE.

` Application filed March 18,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY D. BARTLETT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Furniture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furniture which may be readily collapsed, or folded for portability or storage and which may be easily set up ready for service; and more particularly fto folding` chair and table sets adapted for camp, club, motor-boat and automobile use, and wherever compact portable units of such character may be desired.

Heretofore the need of providing or improvising suitable table and seating means for picnic and outing parties has usually been diiiicult to meet satisfactorily, ordinary furniture being ill adapted for portability and improvised devices usually being deficient and inconvenient.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of folding chair and table set; to provide an improved form of table adapted to fold in such manner as to furnish storage space; to provide a folding chair of improved form adapted either to stand by itself or to be attached to a row-boat seat or the like; to provide a chair adapted) when folded either to stand stably on edge or to serve as a hat rack when hung on the wall; and to provide a portable table and chair outfit including a table anda plurality o'f chairs constructed for combining in a unitary set when folded adapted for outing purposes, as by automobile, motor-boat and the like.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a folding chair.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the back on the line A-A of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the chair;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the back on the line B-B of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary medial cross-section from back to front of a modified form of seat.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line C-C of Fig. 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

j K Patented Mar. 4, 1919. 191s. seria1No.s5,o54.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line D-D of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line E-E of Fig. 11.

Fig. 9 is a medial section from side to side on the line F-F of Fig. 5.

Fig.v10 is a side view of the chair of Fig. 1, in folded position.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary outside view of a modified construction of the legs at the X-pivot.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the seat frame.

Fig. 13 shows the pivot bolt for the back.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken length-wise of a row-boat with the chair of Fig. l installed therein.

Fig. 15 is an end view of a folding table with a set of four chairs folded therein.

Fig. 16 is a side view of the table and chairs shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of one of the leg fastening locks on the folded table.

Figs. 18 and 19 are enlarged fragmentary views of the leg brace fastening released from and clamped to the leg respectively.

Fig. 20 is an inverted perspective View of the table with the legs unfolded and the chairs removed'.

In the co-nstruction shown, the combination furniture set comprises a folding table 1 and a plurality of folding chairs 2, the latter being inclosed and held in place by the table legs or supporting means 3, folded thereon in a compact and unitary manner.

Each chair 2 comprises a seat 4, a back 5, and supporting means all joined together in mutually turnable relation adjacent to the back edge of the seat. For this purpose a common pivot or bolt 6 passes thro-ugh suitable parts or perforated lugs disposed coaxially on said seat 4, back 5 and supporting means 3.' The said supporting means comprises complementary members 7 and 8 joined together medially at the coaxial points 9. One of the leg means 7 is formed to receive the bolt 6, loops 10 being provided therefor, and the ends 11 being extended diagonally downward across the chair, in bracin position, and secured to the other side, as gy the pivots 9. Where the ends 11 cross, they are fastened together as by a rivet 11.1. The complementary leg 8 at its Aupper end coacts detachably with Vso Vic

' extends upward from each a fastening or lug 12V on the lower side of the seat adjacent to the front edge.v

The seat 4 comprises a border frame 14 and a body part secured thereto in a unitary manner, said body part including a sheet metal platev and a wooden panel 16 or the like, which may be upholstered if desired, secured thereto, as by screws 17. Said frame 14 consists of a bent rod of resilient character having its front part disposed across the front of the seat and having its side parts disposed vrearwardly on opposite sides of the seat. The plate 15 has its edges turned downward and inward tightly against said rod in clamping relation thereto. The frame rod 14 is looped at the rear edge of the seat, forming a pair of lugs `adaptedto receive the pivot 6. Said rod lug 20 and is looped backward somewhat at the top to form a bracket or arm 22 having a socket 23 adaptedto receive and support acoacting part of the back 5. From the socket 23 the rod l14 extends downward and forward diagonally to a medial point on the side where it turns inward horizontally and terminates in a turn or loop 26 about an upward hump 27 in said rod. The socket 23 is formed to utilize theY resilience of the rod 14 for yieldably engaging the side bars of the forwardly swingable back 5. In order to permit vof readily attaching the seat 4 to the'seat 28 of a canoe or row-boat or the like 29, or to permit of hanging the folded chair on a horizontalrail or cleat, as will be understood, a hook or lug 30 is provided on the underside of the seat. For this purpose, the frame rod 14 is looped downward and backward' forming a broad rearwardly facing lug of resilient character adapted to grip whatever the seat is'to be attached to.

The back 5 comprises a frame of inverted U-shape, consistingV of a resilient rod Vhaving its central part bowed backward medially to iit the back of the user, and

Vhaving its ends turned downwardly andY looped at the lower extremities to form lugs 37 adapted `for receivingrthe pivot 9. Attached to the upper part of Vsaid frame is a body part 38, consisting of `a plate of sheet metal having its top and side edges folded back around theframe rod in tightly clamped relation and imparting a unitary character tothe back. Whenl the back is folded forward, the body plate 38 swings down to a" plane substantially parallel with and in front-of the .seat 4, and the side rods of V.the back are then 1 of the seat, the downward swingV of the back being .limited at 26 Vby the inwardly turned Vextremities of the rod 14, Vadjacent.

disposed on opposite sides to the hump 27. When the back is swung to its normal position, the'side rods are sprung into the sockets 23, and the back so KVheld is comfortablyl yielding, the coacting partsV 35 and 14 having sufficient spring to provide anl amplitude of about two inches for the top of the back. The yielding is mainly in the bars 35 and in the ends of bar 14 near the hump 27.

The leg 7 is U-shaped and has the upper ends of its side arms pivoted to the seat, the cross member 41, at the opposite end, serving as a broad tread shoe or foot adapted to support the-chair stably, even on soft ground.

rEhe ing as abroad bearing foot like footl 41, and the otherend 44 serving to engage the catch 12 when the chair is in use. VThe medial pivots 9 are disposed somewhat toward the upper'ends of the legs from the center, so that when extended )(-wise` a broad stable support is provided byV said legs. When folded, the front foot 41 projects upward beyond the back, and `serves as a handle for carrying the chair. When so folded, the other foot 43 extends back ofV the seat and pivot 6 and may also beiused as a handle, and is especially adapted and positioned for hanging theV chair on wall hooks in such mannerY as to render the back supports 22 well adapted to serve as hooks of a hat rack or the like, as will be understood. Y

rllhe leg device or supporting means 3 is detachable as a whole from the back and seat proper, by removing the bolt 6, with- Adrawing said means 3 and then returning leg 8 is rectangular, one end 43 servico When the invention is applied to a Vrow boat, the legs may to advantage be merely swung back of the seat and used as a frame on which to place any extra clothing well up away from such moisture as may collect in the bottom of the boat,.as for instance when one is fishing. As thus used, the leg member 7 is disposed horizontally or nearly so, and leg 8 stands foot end up with -tlxfeother end 44 restingv on the bottom of the boat. The upper or forward part Yof legY means 7, having the crossed bars 11, serves as a convenientshelf on which the tackle box 45 andthe like may bekept safely and conveniently at hand and out of one-s-way:

f The'yielding-back makes the chair very comfortable, for whatever purpose itis used.. Y Thgisffeatureis of especialadvantage when Y Y the chair is utilized as Vanextra seat inan automobile or other vehicle subject to jolts and sudden changes in speed and direction.

When said supporting means 3 is attached to the seat, the chair as such operates as follows: In folding the device, the back having been swung forward, the feet members are first drawn together, thereby re` leasing the upper end 44 of member 8 from the seat catch l2. The foot 41 and end 44 are then swung together and the leg members thereby folded to a common plane. Then the leg members are swung as a unit `against the bottom of the seat. The device 1s then secured in its folded condition by swinging the vlatch 46 on the leg member 7 down over the upper edge of the folded back 5.

Vhen folded, the chair may be set on end on the floor where it will stand stably, resting on the foot 43 of leg 8 and braced by the brackets 22, which in the folded position are adjacent to said foot (see Fig. .10).

If a horizontal wall cleat is convenient, the chair may be hung thereon in its folded condition by means of the lug .30, as will be understood. If wall hooks are more convenient, and if desired, the chair may be hung thereon, pivot edge up, by means of the foot member 43 so that the two braces 22 may serve as hooks, as above explained.

To unfold the chair the catch 46 is released, the legs are together swung back away from the seat, then the end 44 is swung upward away from foot 4l and is forced under the catch 12. The back 5 is then swung up into place and the side bars 35 snapped into engagement with the sockets 23.

In order to retain the full strength of the light leg bars at the point of pivoting together at 9, the apertures for the pivots may be swaged rather than drilled, or reinforcing channels 5l may be provided as shown in Figs. 8 and 11. l

VIn the simplified embodiment of Fic-rs. 5 and 9, the plate 15, which may be a sveet metal stamping, is used alone without any wooden panel or upholstering. Said plate may be pressed or otherwise formed to correspond in shape with the usual chair seat. The rear part of the seat is reinforced by turning up the edge at l5.

The table l comprises a top or body member 60, which may be of usual construction, preferably rectangular and oblong, and a pair of supporting means or leg members 3, attached to opposite ends thereof.

Each of said leg members comprises a rectangular frame jointed medially at points 63, located a short distance from the underside of the table. The upper or short end 65 of each leg member is secured rigidly t0 the table, as by screws 66. T hp complementary lower swinging part 67 constitutes a' wide bearing member with a long cross foot 68,

adapted to rest stably wherevei1 the table may be used, either indoors or outside, and regardless of the character of the ground, said foot presenting a large, flat surface adapted to prevent the leg from sinkino in case the ground or turf is soft and yielding.

F astenings are provided to secure the legs in their upright position. For this purpose, U-shaped rods 7() are attached pivotally to the underside of the table, by means of bearing clamps 72 embracing the cross-member 73 of said bars, adjacent to the opposite sides or arms 75. The free ends of said arms are adapted for clamping to the leg members adjacent to the feet, said legs being provided with notches 77 and said braces having loops 78 on their ends on which are carried bolts 79, with suitable thumb nuts 80, adapted for ready setting by hand when the legs are eX- tended. The short inner ends 65 of the legs are made of precisely suiicient length to permit of folding the swinging ends 7 5 inward, parallel to and overlapping each other when the chairs are in place.

In orderv to secure the table legs in their folded position with the chairs embraced thereby, locking means are provided con sisting of a pair of bolts or bars 83 disposed longitudinally on the inner side of the foot member 68 of the outermost support, said bolts being slotted lengthwise at 85, and slidable on the fixed guide studs 86 for sliding outward to engage the opposite leg member, as shown in Figs. 17 and 20.

The leg and foot members are formed of angle bars reinforced at the lower 'end by suitable gusset plates 88. One of the leg members having the locking bolts on the foot is somewhat broader than the opposite leg member and is notched at 89 on the inner side at the ends of the foot so as to permit the leg members to nest together snugly when folded. The locking bolts are so disposed as to overlie the part 67 of the opposite leg when the device is folded, as shown in Fig. 17.

The table may be designed to hold either more or less than four chairs if preferred, but four is a number which meets the usual requirements. In packing the chairs in the table, they are in any case preferably arranged in groups of two placed seat to seat and arranged so that the brackets 22 of the outer chair will bear against the inner side of the peripheral flange 91 on the under side of the table, said flange preferably having definite notches or pockets 92, therein, to receive said brackets so as to prevent any edgewise movement of the chairs.

On the opposite side of the table from said notches an upstanding lug or plate 95 is provided for each pair of chairs, adapted to engage or enter the foot member 43 of the inner chair. For this purpose angle bars are screwed to the underside of the table. The

opposite foot al bears against the adjacent table flange 91. Then the table is designed for more than one pair of chairs, as for instance four chairs, the pockets 92 and flanges 95 lare preferably arranged opposite-ly for the different groups, as shown in Fig. 20. When the folded chairs are assembled in pairs and the table legs 3 are folded and locked thereon, the several parts or'members are held together in a very compact and rigid manner, forming a unitarypfurniture outfit. In case it is desired to omit one pair of chairs, and so leave a blank chair space .in any instance, the chairs inclosed are prevented from sliding sidewise by the sockets 9:2 and the coacting lug 95.

IVhen the folded chairs 2 are in place and the table legs have been folded thereon and locked in place by the bolts 83, the chair and table set as a whole is preferably placed in a canvas bag or protective casing (not shown), whereupon the outfit may-be placed in or strapped to an automobile, or otherwise transported or stored as may be desired.

Although but one embodiment of the table member and only tvo embodiments of the chair members are herein set forth, it is to be understood that numerous detailsof the constructions shown maybe altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim'.

1. A seat, comprising ya .unitary border member, in combination with a body member, said border member consisting of a bent rod havingv its front part disposed across the front of the seat and having its vside parts disposed rearwardly on opposite sides of the seat, and provided withloops at the rear edge of the seat, said side parts being formedeach with an upward extension including a rearward loop and with the extremity of the rod extending diagonally forward and'downward and secured to the side part between the front and back` edges of the seat, and a back turnably connected to the first mentioned loops and normally engaged by the rearward loops to limit its backward swing.

2. A foldable chair comprising a seat having a pair of rearwardly inclined upstanding lugs at its rear corners adapted to serve either as stops or as feet, a back swingable back against said lugs to its seating position and leg .means foldable against said seat and projecting backward therefrom when folded to substantially the same extent that said lugs project backward, where by the seat will stand stably on said-lugs and leg means when-the chair is folded.

3. In a chair, a .supporting member of unitary character, comprising a bar bent to include a horizontal foot extending crosswise from one side of thechair to the other, said bar being turned up at the ends of said foot, the upturned partsextendingup# ward and each including a looped part and said bar extending diagonally downward and inw-,ard from the loopedparts and having its ends attached to the middleparts of the opposite upturned parts respectively.

4t. In a chair, a seat having pivot means adjacent to its rear edge, a supportingmember of unitary character comprising a bar bent to include a horizontallfoot extending crosswise from one side of the chair to the other, said bar being turned .up at the lends of said foot, the upturned parts extending upward and each including a loopedxpart formed'to receive said pivot means. and said bar .extending diagonally downward and inward from the looped parts and having its ends attached tothe middle parts ofthe opposite upturned .parts respectively, and-a complementary supporting member turnably connected medially to `the first mentioned suporting member and having a foot at one end and its opposite end being adapted to detachably engage the front part of said seat. A

5. A chair, comprising a seat in combination with a back, supporting means each turnablyconnected coaxially to the back partfof said seat, lugs projecting upward on the back part-of said seat adapted to limitV the rearward swing of theback in unfolding the chair, said supporting means being foldable against the seat member and projecting beyond the rear edge ofthe seat, said lugs each `@being substantially rigid against vinward springing and including la diagonal'brace part, whereby thev lugs are better adapted to effectually hold the chairs in placewhen folded and stored in a suitable container.

Signed at Chicago -this 15th dayA of March, 1916.

HARRY D. BARTLETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Gommissionerof I'atents,

Washington, D. C. 

